By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
“Let Freedom Swing,” a fiery, live performance by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with WYNTON MARSALIS and an all-star cast of musicians and actors, is now available via Blue Engine Records on all streaming platforms.
The recording showcases original music by a multinational group of composers set to orations of freedom fighters: Darius Brubeck and Zim Ngquawana (Nelson Mandela, read by Morgan Freeman), Toshiko Akiyoshi (Eleanor Roosevelt, read by Patricia Clarkson), Darin Atwater (Robert F. Kennedy, read by Keith David), Billy Childs (Martin Luther King Jr., read by Rev. Calvin O. Butts III), Emil Vislicky (Vaclav Havel, read by Alfre Woodard and Mario Van Peebles), and Jimmy Heath (Lyndon B. Johnson, read by Glenn Close).
“Let Freedom Swing” is the second — following “We The People” — in a series for the new initiative JazzCall for Freedom which advances the proposition that the genre is one of America’s most powerful models for democratic practice.
“Our democracy is under relentless attack from abiding political polarization, deep cultural fragmentation, and a rising movement towards authoritarianism. In times of such uncertainty throughout American history, jazz has spoken in a very clear voice to reaffirm democratic values,” Marsalis said.
“JazzCall For Freedom gives us the opportunity to express our civic concerns. It’s a cry through songs for ethics, cry against corruption, and a co-signature of the fact that we all play a part in our lives,” he added. “We don’t want to just give over the power of governing to whatever it is we don’t agree with. It gives us a chance to speak as a community, as we always have. Jazz has always been civic minded music, and it gives us a chance to be a part of that legacy. This is a JazzCall For Freedom.”
For more information, visit jazz.org/jazzcall.
REVELATIONS: “I feel that sometimes the weight of being Black in America, the stigma of it, you could stigmatize yourself so much that that stigma has a heavy, heavy weight,” VIOLA DAVIS told Bustle for a new episode of their “One Nightstand” podcast. “It permeates everything, right? It permeates your intelligence. It permeates your beauty. It permeates your sense of self. It squelches your voice.”
Thankfully, the acclaimed actress has overcome all that as evident during a candid conversation with Bustle Editor-in-Chief Charlotte Owen.
Viola gets real about a variety of personal topics including this gem on people pushing back on or supporting her ambitions: “I’ve certainly held both hands of people who said, ‘You’re ugly, you’re never going to amount to anything. You’re always going to be poor.’ And the other hands I held that said ‘anything you want.’ And they both can be an inspiration in the way if you put them in the right place.”
She also shared her favorite books as “Manchild in the Promised Land” by Claude Brown; “Black Boy” by Richard Wright; “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker; “All the Way to the River” by Elizabeth Gilbert; and “Judge Stone,” her new novel co-written with bestselling author James Patterson available everywhere now.
For more, be sure to check out the episode in which the EGOT winner also opens up about the book she says brought her “into consciousness,” what she’d like to ask Richard Wright, and why she chose to quote August Wilson after Michael B. Jordan’s iconic “Sinners” win.
On the big screen, Viola will next be seen as Mama Agba in Gina Prince-Bythewood‘s adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi‘s “Children of Blood and Bone” with Idris Elba, Damson Idris, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch and Amandla Stenberg.
HIS TWO CENTS: “The world, right away, became like politics. You’re either Democrat or Republican. You’re either [with] Kendrick [Lamar] or you’re Drake. And you have to pick a side. And I felt like the n***a that was like disgusted both ways, damn near. [It’s] disgusting how people try to use that opportunity to either show how they really felt about Drake the whole time or just pile on and tear this dude down and create a narrative as if he’s not great. It was a whole campaign, and probably still is to this day.” – J COLE
CLIPPETTES: Marvel’s Disney+ series “Wonder Man,” starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley, has been renewed for a second season …
Oscar winner Mahershala Ali is joining season two of the HBO Mark Ruffalo crime drama “Task” as a Philadelphia DEA agent …
“I ain’t giving up my money,” TV & Radio Host Stephen A. Smith announced on “Hang Out with Sean Hannity. “Let me put the presidential aspirations to bed.” …
Saxophonist Ronnie Laws has a new recording of “Ribbon in the Sky,” featuring the song’s originator Stevie Wonder, Larry Dunn, Howard Hewett, and his sister Debra Laws now available on all streaming platforms …
“I’ve never been cut, never been snitched or snatched,” 73-year-old Chaka Khan told the “Table Manners” podcast about her youthful appearance. “I don’t believe in it.” …
Shaggy and Robin Thicke have teamed for a new single “Looking Lovely,” inspired by the late Bill Withers’ iconic “Lovely Day.” The former’s new album “Lottery” is due May 15 with additional collaborations with Sting, Akon, Aidonia, Beres Hammond and more.
CAPTAIN’S LOG: “It’s with sorrow that I hear about the cancellation of the new ‘Star Trek’ series. During the first airing of my ‘Star Trek’ series where a kiss [with Nichelle Nichols’ Lt. Uhura] was objectionable; many southern stations pulled the episode and condemned the show. Using today’s vernacular, it would absolutely be called ‘woke DEI crap’ because it went against ‘norms’ of society for its time. Not a lot seems to have changed.” – WILLIAM SHATNER on X regarding Paramount+ ending the culturally diverse “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.”
TC ON TV: APRIL 5 – “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo): Singer/actress K Michelle and Slutty Vegan entrepreneur Pinky Cole get peaches for this 17th season. “HBCU Awarefest” (BET): A benefit concert featuring performances by Jill Scott, Kirk Franklin, Tems, Jeezy, Coco Jones, Yolanda Adams, Common, Mickey Guyton and many more.
APRIL 6 – “The Neighborhood” (CBS): The cast’s Tichina Arnold directs the first episode to be followed by a one-hour farewell special. “Foul Play with Anthony Davis” (TBS/TNT/TRU): The nine-time NBA All-Star plays pranks on some of the greatest athletes in the world in this unscripted comedy series.
APRIL 7 – “Finding Your Roots” (PBS): Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family secrets of actor Danielle Deadwyler and musician Rhiannon Giddens, meeting heroes and villains — and celebrating the virtue of accepting one’s relatives whoever they may be. “Chopped” (Food): Four chefs with a connection to the rich culinary history of Africa cook in this special competition.
APRIL 8 – “The Testaments” (Hulu): This spin-off series from “The Handmaid’s Tale” based on Margaret Atwood‘s novel of the same name stars hot young star Chase Infiniti (“One Battle After Another”) and brings back the steely Ann Dowd as disciplinarian Aunt Lydia.
END QUOTE: “Oppressed people often don’t know our own histories. Oppressors prefer it that way. Today, in the 21st century , I find it shameful there are efforts to ban the teaching of Black History. You can’t separate our Black history from American history. You’re denying the whole story. If you refuse to tell the terrible parts, you miss out on the glorious passages too — which belongs to all of us.” – LIONEL RICHIE from his memoir “Truly”
For 13 years, Bill Vaughan has kept Wave readers up to date with the latest news in entertainment. Now, we are collecting some of those past columns into what we call the Best of Tasty Clips. To contact Vaughan, visit his social media pages on Facebook and Instagram or @tasty_clips, on X @tastyclips, and on LinkedIn to William Vaughan.
